The lady wore pink

A cello buddy backstage at the Richmond Philharmonic, this past Sunday;

in addition to being quite handy with the cello, she is a brilliant medical professional.

When it goes down, I want her on my team.

***

More backstage below:

"Yea, we're cool--deal with it!"

Brass players are....like, animals of a different species to me...'cause, like, they are WAY the heck over yonder...and what IS SHE DOING?!?!  Is that spit?  Is she emptying the spit valve?!?!

Is she installing some sort of unholy device in the bell?

Someone call an exorcist!

I love all the little rituals musicians have, some which are necessary, while others seem analogous to the crazy stuff baseball players do to ward off bad mojo. 

I like how relaxed this player is--she has the wisdom to know that perhaps the best thing to do to prepare for a concert is to get into the right frame of mind.

Our conductor....we love him....no, not the distinguished white-haired gentleman, who is quite a fine bass player--the youngster, Bob Marakian.

Our concertmaster, going over bowings, articulations, dynamics with, I think, the assistant principal second violin. Dude is really professional without being stodgy or a hassle.

Bass cover conveniently labelled just in case you forget what instrument you play...